Published: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 10:10 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 10:10 a.m.

At its Monday meeting, the Parish Council approved, in an 8-0 vote, an ordinance intended to help curb the immediate impact of a $14.3 million budget cut at Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma.

Councilman John Navy was absent and did not vote.

The full council must ratify the transfer in a vote set to follow a Dec. 19 public hearing.

The cuts at Chabert, to begin Jan. 1, would involve eliminating beds and specialized health care clinics, 245 layoffs and a possible elimination and loss of accreditation for the hospital's graduate medical program.

The council must approve the aid by year's end before layoffs and other reductions are enacted.

The cuts are part of a plan that removes $152 million from the state's university-run charity hospital system.

Under the plan, more than 1,500 jobs and dozens of inpatient beds across the seven hospitals in the system would be eliminated.

“Should this $14.3 million cut be enacted, you would see departmental closures to the point where the door would be locked,” said state Sen. Norby Chabert, R-Houma. The hospital is named after his late father, also a state senator.

“That would result in an immediate removal of accreditations for the graduate medical education program,” he said.

Councilwoman Christa Duplantis, who works as a nurse, said Chabert serves Terrebonne and other parishes, including St. Charles, Lafourche, Assumption and Orleans.

“It's utilized by everyone,” she said. “What we are doing by this is taking care of the people of Terrebonne — we are taking care of other people — but it is a Band-Aid what we are doing tonight.”

The Lafourche Parish Council is considering a $1 million contribution of its own. A vote is set for Dec. 11.

Duplantis questioned how long the “temporary fix” is expected to last and what long-term solutions are available.

“To save the patient, you must stabilize the patient. This simply stabilizes the patient,” Chabert said. “We've got to save him on the back end with legislative sessions and dealing with the major budgetary issues that we are going to face.”

As for a long-term solution, Chabert said he doesn't see a way to avoid some form of “lease transaction” with an eventual partner.

Chabert said if the Chabert Medical Center avoids these initial closures, the graduate-medical-education facility will continue to be “critical” in attracting a private-public partnership.

Duplantis told Chabert that there is a lot of talk about selling the hospital.

“The purchasing of the facility is a complicated issue,” Chabert said. “I can't see us ever selling it.”

Duplantis said the council must do what it can to keep the hospital open.

“It does provide good health care to people. I hope there is hope for Chabert in the future.”

Councilman Danny Babin echoed the sentiment.

“I don't feel like this is any bailout,” Babin said. “I feel like this is a good thing for Terrebonne Parish. It is a great institution.”

<p>Terrebonne Parish will likely transfer $2 million to Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma.</p><p>At its Monday meeting, the Parish Council approved, in an 8-0 vote, an ordinance intended to help curb the immediate impact of a $14.3 million budget cut at Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma.</p><p>Councilman John Navy was absent and did not vote.</p><p>The full council must ratify the transfer in a vote set to follow a Dec. 19 public hearing. </p><p>The cuts at Chabert, to begin Jan. 1, would involve eliminating beds and specialized health care clinics, 245 layoffs and a possible elimination and loss of accreditation for the hospital's graduate medical program. </p><p>The council must approve the aid by year's end before layoffs and other reductions are enacted. </p><p>The cuts are part of a plan that removes $152 million from the state's university-run charity hospital system.</p><p>Under the plan, more than 1,500 jobs and dozens of inpatient beds across the seven hospitals in the system would be eliminated.</p><p>“Should this $14.3 million cut be enacted, you would see departmental closures to the point where the door would be locked,” said state Sen. Norby Chabert, R-Houma. The hospital is named after his late father, also a state senator.</p><p>“That would result in an immediate removal of accreditations for the graduate medical education program,” he said.</p><p>Councilwoman Christa Duplantis, who works as a nurse, said Chabert serves Terrebonne and other parishes, including St. Charles, Lafourche, Assumption and Orleans. </p><p>“It's utilized by everyone,” she said. “What we are doing by this is taking care of the people of Terrebonne — we are taking care of other people — but it is a Band-Aid what we are doing tonight.”</p><p>The Lafourche Parish Council is considering a $1 million contribution of its own. A vote is set for Dec. 11.</p><p>Duplantis questioned how long the “temporary fix” is expected to last and what long-term solutions are available.</p><p>“To save the patient, you must stabilize the patient. This simply stabilizes the patient,” Chabert said. “We've got to save him on the back end with legislative sessions and dealing with the major budgetary issues that we are going to face.” </p><p>As for a long-term solution, Chabert said he doesn't see a way to avoid some form of “lease transaction” with an eventual partner.</p><p>Chabert said if the Chabert Medical Center avoids these initial closures, the graduate-medical-education facility will continue to be “critical” in attracting a private-public partnership. </p><p>Duplantis told Chabert that there is a lot of talk about selling the hospital.</p><p>“The purchasing of the facility is a complicated issue,” Chabert said. “I can't see us ever selling it.” </p><p>Duplantis said the council must do what it can to keep the hospital open.</p><p>“It does provide good health care to people. I hope there is hope for Chabert in the future.”</p><p>Councilman Danny Babin echoed the sentiment. </p><p>“I don't feel like this is any bailout,” Babin said. “I feel like this is a good thing for Terrebonne Parish. It is a great institution.”</p>